Westpac extends videoconferencing to all branches, Asia

Westpac will install its Connect Now videoconferencing service across its entire network after a successful initial rollout last year, and has extended the service to its Singapore office.

Westpac group executive for retail and business banking, Jason Yetton, said Connect Now, which is in operation in half of Westpac's branches, has been used to provide one-on-one advice to 10,000 customers in remote locations.

Take-up of the service is growing. Last month Connect Now was used to set up 2300 "virtual appointments".

"Connect Now links customers to 100 experts in home and business lending, trade and equipment finance, foreign exchange, financial planning and transactional payments solutions," said Yetton, who was speaking at AB&F's Retail Financial Services Forum in Sydney yesterday.

The experts work in Connect Now hubs in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. A Brisbane hub is due to open soon.

In April the bank installed Connect Now in its Singapore office. A mix of Australian businesses, expats and Singaporeans have used it to talk to bankers in the Australian hubs.

The bank would not comment on whether it would install the service in other Asian centres.

Yetton said the service did not replace the relationship banking model and the bank was investing in the quality of its bankers along with the technology.